This may be hard to imagine, but I’ve come to realize that almost everyone knows someone who has been impacted by a substance use disorder. People may look at my family, at my mom, Madeleine Dean, and not expect for us to have been impacted, too – but we have.

I’m Harry Cunnane, Mad’s son, and I am currently in recovery.

It’s been just under a year since my mother and I released our co-authored memoir, Under Our Roof: A Son’s Battle for Recovery, a Mother’s Battle for Her Son. We set out on this journey together with one thing in mind – to end the stigma surrounding addiction and substance-use disorder.

For nearly ten years, I struggled. My daughter was born in the middle of my battle of addiction. I tried everything to be the father my family needed me to be and the father I wanted to be for my child. I struggled alone and afraid to tell anyone about my demons.

If you don’t already know our family's full story, check out this interview I did with my mom when we first released our joint memoir.

I wish I could explain the fear and shame you feel as an addict to ask for help. Now that I am in my own recovery journey, I wish more than anything that I didn’t let the fear win for so long.

I think of those still struggling and those for whom the stigma looms too heavy to see a path forward.

I’m so grateful for leaders going to bat in Congress to end the opioid crisis. My mom was one of those leaders – even before she knew how close this issue was to home. But policy changes only go so far.

The more we talk about it, the more we break the stigma associated with substance-use disorder. I hope my story is one of hope, to remind people that recovery is possible.

Thank you for letting me into your inbox. And to anyone out there who knows someone struggling with addiction or is seeking support themselves, just know that you do not have to fight this disease alone and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Sincerely,
Harry

If you or someone you know is seeking help for substance use disorder, please call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889 (TTY). This 24/7/365 toll-free helpline connects you to a professional from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA. SAMHSA can help locate local resources, and services are available in both English and Spanish. All conversations are confidential.

Madeleine is an attorney, professor, mother, grandmother, and Member of Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District of Berks and Montgomery Counties. She is an outspoken leader who champions progressive priorities such as education, universal access to healthcare, gun safety, and ethical government. Madeleine Dean has built a reputation for getting things done, and we need her to continue to be our voice to serve us in Congress.

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